COVERPLAY was discussed again in a blog called A Consultant’s Chronicles: The business blog for Means to an End, a mediation, HR training, & organizational consulting service in the SF Bay area. The author discusses why COVERPLAY’s slipcovers work – It’s a simple and smart idea that is necessary. The author goes on to talk about some of the features of the pack and play slipcovers, how to build a business with the right idea and the frustration we get when we hear of an idea explode that we probably could have thought of. I have included the blog post below.

Although I’m as guilty as anyone when it comes to making fun of “reality TV,” there is one sub-category I watch with genuine interest & that is any reality show about business. Until this summer, success in this area belonged only to Donald Trump. This month there’s a new show I like a lot called Shark Tank where real venture capitalists compete with each other to fund real Shark Tank entrepreneurs using their own money.

Building A Business By Addressing A Small & Simple Need

Sunday night’s episode was a classic case study in building a business by addressing a small & simple need. The name of the product is Coverplay, which was developed by Allison Costa & business partner Amy Feldman. It is a specially treated [& patented] coverlet for playpens. Why do parents need it? Think about what happens in a playpen: it’s a venue for [pre] toilet training, children bring food, toys, & well frankly anything they can get their little hands around [not to mention what their brothers, sisters, & playmates may contribute] making your child’s playpen host central to all kinds of bacteria. Clearly, an uncovered playpen is not a safe place for a small child whose immune system is just developing. Enter Coverplay, which:

* Protects against viruses
* Is machine washable
* Comes in a selection of colorful patterns
* Pediatrician recommended
* Great for travel

A ‘Silver Lining’ In a Down Job-Market

In short it’s a fantastic idea that’s really simple & really necessary. As soon as you look at it you can’t help but think, “why didn’t I think of that”? It’s utter simplicity reminds me of other really basic ideas that turned into big businesses like post-its or even the tops of take-out coffee cups with a small sip hole in them. The list of simple products like these goes on & on. They all have at least one thing in common: they are examples of small, simple ideas that fill a void. It is exactly what Madison Ave. adman & TV host Donny Deutsch talks about when he encourages potential entrepreneurs to develop their ‘big idea’ & bring it to market. In a job-market filled with bad news, this product is a ray of sunshine capable of inspiring anyone with a little “big idea” to put forth their best effort to make their dream a business reality.